*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
PLEASE NOTE: Further snow due on Saturday morning with a 7:30am precautionary inspection.
12:35 Captain Kangaroo
Willie Mullins and Paul Townend dominated the Dublin Racing Festival last weekend and can kick-start this one at Naas with victory in the opening maiden hurdle. CAPTAIN KANGAROO has done more than enough on the racetrack to date and will be extremely hard to beat here for the Closutton team. The son of Mastercraftsman never raced for John Hammond in France before winning on debut for Mullins in a Clonmel bumper last March.
Kilcruit was the second horse home and has managed two subsequent wins, including last weekend at Leopardstown to become favourite for the Cheltenham bumper. Captain Kanagroo has gained good hurdling experience since, having finished fourth, third and second in two races here and one down the road at Punchestown. Hurricane Cliff is the main danger for Henry de Bromhead, while any market support for newcomers, Landing Zone and Bridge Street would be interesting to note.
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13:40 Elimay
The winning run of Willie Mullins should continue in the listed Opera Hat Mares Chase with ELIMAY facing four-rivals over 2-miles. The talented grey looks more than capable of giving weight away here following a lovely comeback run against stable-mate Allaho at Thurles last month. The seven-year-old has not finished outside the first two-places seen running down the field in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham nearly two-years-ago.
Her second-place finished behind Allaho, now favourite for the Ryanair Chase next month was her first defeat over fences having previously won two graded races at Cork and Thurles. She raced upside her stable-mate over the last at Thurles and won’t have any issue dropping back in trip. Shattered Love should finish second now returning to fences, but Elimay will score and likely head towards the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next month.
14:15 Lean Araig
Oliver McKiernan went close to landing a nice handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival last weekend with Unexpected Depth and his LEAN ARAIG looks a solid selection in this extended 2m 4f handicap chase. Paddy is paying 5-places in this contest, but hopefully that won’t be needed with this horse deserving to score over fences following several good runs this season. The 12-year-old has won three-times over hurdles but remains a maiden over fences after six-starts since 2018.
He was well beaten by National Hunt Chase and Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase contender Eklat De Rire at Punchestown in December, before improving to finish second twice at Limerick and Fairyhouse. Those two efforts behind Wishmoor and Enjoy D’Allen read nicely and he remains rated 118 following his latest third-place finish over course and distance last month. I’ve no doubt he’ll go very close again and be right in contention alongside R’evelyn Pleasure and Sovereign Gold.
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15:25 Djasek
Our Paddy is once again paying an extra-place in this competitive handicap hurdle with 5-places on offer instead of the normal 4-places. DJASEK gets the vote here following his eye-catching and improved performance in a Ladies Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse last month. Liz Lalor was very patient on the five-year-old and was travelling well after the second last before challenging wide and flying home late for second.
Liam McKenna takes over in the saddle today with a 2lb rise in the ratings which perhaps won’t be enough to stop him scoring for the first-time over hurdles. Fou Diligence should set a decent pace and the drop back in trip will suit, while Don’t Go Yet, Wait Here and several others are all in the mix. However, having saddled a recent winner at Dundalk with The Mouse Doctor, Tony Martin can record another success this month with Djasek more than capable to improve further to win.
16:35 Hashtag Watt
Charles Byrnes won this closing bumper with Balliniska Band on debut in 2018 with many others landing several gambles in National Hunt Flat races in recent seasons. I’m going to take a punt on HASHTAG WATT with the hope this four-year-old has similar ability and close attention is required in the betting. Byrnes is currently waiting on an IHRB appeal verdict into the Viking Hoard case and with the prospect of a six-month ban if not successful, finding winners is likely high on his agenda.
The stable landed a valuable handicap with Leopardstown specialist Off You Go last weekend and Hashtag Watt warrants respect with a hood fitted on debut. It’s been many years since the Rathgar Beau and Justified days for Dusty Sheehy, who saddles Captain Conby. His horse was a half-length ahead of Gordon Elliott’s Eyewitness when second and third at this venue last month. Elliott also runs Blacktrenchwarrior while Back Yourself is another interesting runner for Johnny Murtagh.
Tips for Naas on Saturday
12:35 Captain Kangaroo
13:40 Elimay
14:15 Lean Araig
15:25 Djasek
16:35 Hashtag Watt
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
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